Earl Grey bergamot level

I was perusing Upton’s website and found their comments on regular EG interesting. Their’s is an English blend where the bergamot is little lighter than many American counterparts. In my grocery store tea days (ok, 6 months ago) I always drank Ahmad because the bergamot did not overpower the tea. Most EG’s I find at the grocer are too over-flavored. I want to taste tea. Another hint that I was born on the wrong side of the Atlantic?

I tend to like the blends lighter in bergamot, too. If it is too strong, it smells and tastes too much like perfume. If it is done well, it is the most relaxing tea. I am a big fan of Harney & Son’s Earl Grey Supreme, and Viennese Earl Grey. I might have to try Upton’s EG on my next order, though.

I totally agree with SimplyJenW…I hate that perfumey taste with EG’s. I really believe that Harney’s EG Supreme is what Jean Luke drank on the Starship Enterprise:)
Have you tried the Chocolate Ear Grey from Upton? It is a really smooth cup of tea.

Harney has nice sachets. I still prefer loose, but their sachets are good. Is the tea the Earl Grey Imperial? I don’t have that one. But if you want to try some of Harney’s other Earl Greys, I can pop some samples in the mail for you. I mail order from them frequently and have three right now. Message me your address if it sounds like a good option.

I don’t. :) All I get out of a strongly flavoured EG is a mouthful of dust. Kusmi’s Smoky EG, however, is absolutely fab, I think because the smoke keeps the bergamot under control. I’ll take my blacks with more or less any other kind of citrus. :)

EG is my favourite tea and I was quite impressed with the Upton’s sampler I bought (well, except for the EG Lavender which I found to be too perfumey). It definitely has a nice light flavour. I used it up and have gone back to some Teavana EG that I had kicking around the cupboard and definitely notice the difference and prefer the Uptons. The Teavana’s is overpowering but it was a gift and who doesn’t like free tea :)

I’m trying to break myself of the milky tea habit but it’s hard. Been brainwashed from all the cups I had with my Gramma as a kid where I had was allowed “tea” and “coffee” with the adults if it had ten pounds of sugar and milk in it.

I find even the bergamot in Ahmad tea too strong. Even with milk it tastes as a bottle of perfume. I blend it with other teas such as rooibos or mint, but it inevitably takes over all other flavours. This Earl Grey is the reason I dislike black teas altogether.